Know a pet store selling shark cartilage?

Download our letter asking them to remove it from their shelves. Just add the date, your name
and email address (or ours if you prefer –info@finfreesoup.com). Please leave a note in the comments
as to who you have contacted so we can keep track.Thank you for your support, Fin Free Soup Team

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you regarding your decision to sell shark cartilage products for pet consumption.I understand and appreciate that you aim to provide pet owners with a variety of nutritionaloptions, however, there have been recent studies regading shark cartilage that you may not beaware of.

Shark cartilage contains β-N-methylamino- L-alanine (BMAA), a ubiquitous toxin linked toneurodegenerative diseases such as Motor Neurone, Parkinsons and Alzheimers. Sharks are alsoknown to contain high levels of mercury, another neurotoxic compound that bioaccumulates overtheir lifespan. Together, these compounds may have synergistic neurotoxic effects. A recent studyinvestigated the concentration of BMAA and mercury in ﬁns and muscles sampled in ten species ofsharks. BMAA and Mercury were detected in all of the shark species.

Another recent study also reported that commercial shark cartilage contains pro-inﬂammatorycompounds that could pose health risks when consumed. This is of particular concern when aninﬂammatory diseases is already present.

“The efficacy of shark cartilage in maintaining joint health remains questionable; there is a lack ofsufficient reliable information on its effect, and the potential health risks involved have not beenadequately assessed” Merly and Smith 2015.

A lack of information regarding the fishing methods and sustainability in obtaining sharks for theircartilage, as well as the species that are being utilised, is also of concern. One manufacturer recentlyrevealed their products contain dogfish shark, bull shark (Near Threatened according to theInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List), blue shark (Near Threatened),nurse shark (Western Atlantic population is assessed as Near Threatened), blacktip shark (NearThreatened), reef shark (Near Threatened) and thresher shark (vulnerable).

According to the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, 32 percent of open ocean (pelagic) sharks are nowthreatened with extinction. This is the result of overfishing due to the high demand for shark finsoup, meat and cartilage products. Sharks are particularly sensitive to overfishing due to their latematurity, low birthing rates and long gestation periods. Estimates suggest a total annual mortality of100 million sharks killed in 2000 and about 97 million sharks in 2010, with a total range between 63and 273 million per year. A number that is far from sustainable.

I ask that in light of this information you remove shark cartilage from your range of products andreplace it with a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. If you require clarification or any furtherinformation, please do not hesitate to contact me.